27th Jul 2012, by Agrimoney
UK wheat farmers face a double whammy of a crop with below average yields and threats to quality too thanks to poor weather, which is to drag rapeseed results below last year's as well.
Wet weather, which this month has seen rainfall hit more than double average rates, "has increased incidence" of infections on wheat ears by the fusarium fungus, and "resulted in continued development of [leaf] diseases", the Adas crop consultancy said.
Furthermore, in cutting sunshine levels to 50% of normal, the conditions "will have limited photosynthesis" for the crop, the European Union's third biggest.
"In the past, a lack of sunshine has not correlated with low yields, although this year may prove to be exceptional," Adas said.
With lodging, the bending over of crops, typically under hail and rain, also a setback "average yields could end up slightly below the UK five-year average" of 7.8 tonnes per hectare.
'High fungal toxin risk'
And while some weather conditions, typically hot ones, can compensate for lower yields in raised crop specifications, "winter wheat quality could be very variable this season", Adas said.
The specific weight of the crop – its mass per fixed volume – is threatened by fungal infections, "known to cause shrivelled grain", unsuitable for producing flour.
"Given the wet weather at flowering and the increasing levels of fusarium in many crops this could be a major factor influencing quality this harvest," Adas said in a report for the HGCA crop bureau.
Meanwhile, there was a "high risk" of the development of myotoxins – toxic fungal residues which in large enough concentrations can render crop unfit even for feed.
And protein levels may be depressed too, given that "wet years and early nitrogen uptake tend to correspond with lower protein contents", the briefing said – although on this score, infections could hold some benefit.
"Overall, grain protein levels are expected to be below average, except where late disease leads to poorly filled grains, lower yields and higher protein contents."
Even the recent dry spell could hold setbacks, in causing temperature stress which can cause the release of enzymes which break down starch, a factor measured by the Hagberg falling number, with affecting bread-making qualities.
Lower rapeseed prospects
The "baking heat" of the last few days presented a risk to rapeseed too, in causing a rapid drydown which has increased the risk of cracking, and seed loss, on harvesting, the consultancy warned.
However, a bigger risk was from lodging, which "can reduce yields by 15-50% in affected areas due to poor sunlight interception, and can make harvesting slower and more difficult".
One-half of the UK rapeseed crop has bent over to some degree, a reflection of strong early growth which left the crop vulnerable to wet and windy spring weather.
"Yields overall are not expected to be as high as recent years," despite coming in at 3.3-3.7 tonnes per hectare from early cuts, above the average 3.4 tonnes per hectare.
Better for barley
Barley farmers appear to have come out better from the conditions, facing "reasonable" yield prospects for the winter crop, a forecast "supported by early yields ranging from 6.1-7.2 tonnes per hectare".
"The indicators for malting quality seem good" too, with "wet years often associated with low grain nitrogen concentrations" preferred by brewers.
For spring barley, "malting quality prospects are good for most of the early drilled crops where nitrogen was applied early", Adas said.
UK wheat farmers face a double whammy of a crop with below average yields and threats to quality too thanks to poor weather, which is to drag rapeseed results below last year's as well.
Wet weather, which this month has seen rainfall hit more than double average rates, "has increased incidence" of infections on wheat ears by the fusarium fungus, and "resulted in continued development of [leaf] diseases", the Adas crop consultancy said.
Furthermore, in cutting sunshine levels to 50% of normal, the conditions "will have limited photosynthesis" for the crop, the European Union's third biggest.
"In the past, a lack of sunshine has not correlated with low yields, although this year may prove to be exceptional," Adas said.
With lodging, the bending over of crops, typically under hail and rain, also a setback "average yields could end up slightly below the UK five-year average" of 7.8 tonnes per hectare.
'High fungal toxin risk'
And while some weather conditions, typically hot ones, can compensate for lower yields in raised crop specifications, "winter wheat quality could be very variable this season", Adas said.
The specific weight of the crop – its mass per fixed volume – is threatened by fungal infections, "known to cause shrivelled grain", unsuitable for producing flour.
"Given the wet weather at flowering and the increasing levels of fusarium in many crops this could be a major factor influencing quality this harvest," Adas said in a report for the HGCA crop bureau.
Meanwhile, there was a "high risk" of the development of myotoxins – toxic fungal residues which in large enough concentrations can render crop unfit even for feed.
And protein levels may be depressed too, given that "wet years and early nitrogen uptake tend to correspond with lower protein contents", the briefing said – although on this score, infections could hold some benefit.
"Overall, grain protein levels are expected to be below average, except where late disease leads to poorly filled grains, lower yields and higher protein contents."
Even the recent dry spell could hold setbacks, in causing temperature stress which can cause the release of enzymes which break down starch, a factor measured by the Hagberg falling number, with affecting bread-making qualities.
Lower rapeseed prospects
The "baking heat" of the last few days presented a risk to rapeseed too, in causing a rapid drydown which has increased the risk of cracking, and seed loss, on harvesting, the consultancy warned.
However, a bigger risk was from lodging, which "can reduce yields by 15-50% in affected areas due to poor sunlight interception, and can make harvesting slower and more difficult".
One-half of the UK rapeseed crop has bent over to some degree, a reflection of strong early growth which left the crop vulnerable to wet and windy spring weather.
"Yields overall are not expected to be as high as recent years," despite coming in at 3.3-3.7 tonnes per hectare from early cuts, above the average 3.4 tonnes per hectare.
Better for barley
Barley farmers appear to have come out better from the conditions, facing "reasonable" yield prospects for the winter crop, a forecast "supported by early yields ranging from 6.1-7.2 tonnes per hectare".
"The indicators for malting quality seem good" too, with "wet years often associated with low grain nitrogen concentrations" preferred by brewers.
For spring barley, "malting quality prospects are good for most of the early drilled crops where nitrogen was applied early", Adas said.
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